The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is mobilizing the industry to participate in National Groundhog Job Shadow Day on February 2, 2007, and introduce young people to the more than 200 lodging career paths. A…
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is mobilizing the industry to participate in National Groundhog Job Shadow Day on February 2, 2007, and introduce young people to the more than 200 lodging career paths. A nationwide initiative, this day allows more than one million school-aged kids across America to receive an up-close look at how the skills they learn in school are put into action in the workplace. In addition, 100,000 businesses and organizations nationwide are expected to join lodging in participation.
With the lodging industry producing $122.7 billion in sales and employing 1.4 million hotel property workers in 2005, AH&LA is galvanizing its partner state associations and member properties to accomplish record participation in next year’s “shadow” workplace experience.
For participants in the lodging industry, a typical Job Shadow day entails hosting 5-20 high school students at a hotel property or corporate headquarters for a back-of-the-house tour of IT, guest service, food & beverage, housekeeping, accounting, maintenance, executive, marketing, and other operations. Each student follows a staff mentor, including hotel owners, CEOs, general managers, security directors, executive chefs, concierge staff, and event planners, through all or part of a typical work day. Students participate in daily functions, gaining hands-on exposure to the wide array of professions in the lodging industry, and receive a certificate upon completion.
“This is the industry`s 10th year participating in Job Shadow Day and it is an excellent opportunity to showcase the vast array of opportunities available in the lodging industry,” said AH&LA President & CEO Joseph A. McInerney, CHA. “The hospitality workforce is shrinking and the need to cultivate tomorrow`s talented pool is great. By 2010, the U.S. lodging industry will require more than 700,000 additional workers. The business community’s participation in Job Shadow Day illustrates their commitment to supporting the industry’s future hospitality leaders.”
Job Shadow Day is a coordinated effort of America’s Promise, Junior Achievement, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
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